Mattress.



No. 68|,573- Patented Aug. 27, i90l.

w. w.y NlcHoLs. MATTRESS.

(Application filed Jan. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

` ilNirnn STATES ATnNr OFFICE.

WILLIAM W.v NICHOLS, OF'ST; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' MATTRESS.

SlECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 681,573, dated August 2.7, 1901. Application filed January l2, 1901. Serial No. 43,085. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern: Beit known that I, WILLIAM W. NicHoLs,

a citizen of theUnited States,and a resident of the city of` St. Louis, and State of Missouri, lhave made a certain new. and useful Invention in Mattresses; and I declare the following to beba full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of. reference marked thereon, which form a partl of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my mattress. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same. The invention has relation to. sectional mattresses; and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings the letter A designates the mattress, which consists of the middle section B and the series of sections C, connected thereto, forming the head and foot portions of the mattress. The sectionA B is about twice the length of a section C, measuring along the length of the mattress.

In constructing this mattress the sections are made of trapezoidal form in cross-section, tapering slightly downwardly, and consist in the art to which it appertains to makeand' each of an upper or continuous surface d, a.

lower or separated surface c, sidesf, and ends g. In this .manner the mattress is formed to consist of a series of cushions whereof the middle one is about twice the length of any of the other sections. The cloth forming the continuous surface of the mattress is entire, and

the portions of cloth forming the other parts of the sectionsare sewed to the continuoussurface cloth. The sections are filled with rectangular sheets of felt, which are smoothly laid upon eachother in the sectons, so that their regular forni is preserved, upon which depends much of their utility. Vhenever any section or compartment so made becomes indented or mashed down, it is easy to restore it to form by manipulation. In this respect the felt filling is different from other fillings Wh ich will not preserve thereotanfgu- 5c lar form ker any `approxilnatiozi thereto. YThe middle section B, covering doublethe extent to the other or con tinuous surface. This continuous surface is 'therefore placed upward for summer use on account ot' the provision.

for the circulation of air through the inter-v vals between--the sections below it; but in cold Weather the sectional surface of the 'mattress is placed uppermost, so that the weight ofthe occupant of the bed will cause the sides of the sections to be pressed together,

closing the intervals throughout their entire' length and breadth, so that they will not In this manner the mattressis Arendered AWarm and comfortable in winter.

admit air,

The mattress is readily folded up in awall on the broad middle section and can be stored away in small compass. As most of the'vrear The adjacent sides of lsecis'on the middle section, this can bere-placed when necessary Without disturbingthe other sections.

The squared` filling of felt sheets serves-an important purpose in this invention in preserving v,the form of the sections, upon which the ventilation and closure depend.

The sections are easily lled with the fel-tsheets, as each section has an end piece of cloth which isdetachable, being easily ripped out and' sewed in again after-filling.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The hereindescribed, reversible mattress,` consisting'of a series of head and foot sections, and a middle section of about double the length of the other said sections, each said section being of trapezoidal rform 'in crosssection, the parallel sides of such trapezoids forming the upper and lower surfaces ofthe mattress, substantially as specified.

2.",Tlie h'leilidescribed, 'reversible mat-Q tress', "consisting/olf a series of head and foot sections, and a middle section of'a'tiout double thelength of the ther said sections, each said section being of trapezoidai forni inf crossiorming the uppervand lower .sm-feces of the Io section,'and beingfilled with sheets of 4felt; mattress,substantially as specified. l the parallelsides of lsuch trapezoids forming In testimony whereof I affix. my signature the upper and lowerisurfaces of the mattress, in presence of twokwtuesses. A

substantially as specified. 7 v s. The herein-described reversible ,mau- WILLIAM W.NIOHQLS- t'ress, consisting offal series of sections, each Witnesses:

'said section being of trapezoidal form in cross-v MJ C. NICIEIQLS,l

section, the parall'eisides of snch trapezoids JNO. A, STARCK. v- 

